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Prevalence estimates of alcohol problems in a veterans administration outpatient population: Audit vs. Mast
Author(s) -
Luckie Lorenzo F.,
White Robert E.,
Miller William R.,
Icenogle Milton V.,
Lasoski Milton C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(199505)51:3<422::aid-jclp2270510317>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - audit , alcohol consumption , population , medicine , alcohol use disorders identification test , psychiatry , family medicine , psychology , emergency medicine , environmental health , alcohol , poison control , injury prevention , management , economics , biochemistry , chemistry
Prior reports have indicated that the prevalence of alcohol‐related problems in VA patients is significantly higher than that found in the general population. Prevalence rates, however, are likely to be affected by the screening instrument employed. A sample of 722 VA outpatients awaiting general medical and urgent care treatment was asked to complete two screening questionnaires: the World Health Organization's AUDIT and the brief MAST. Of 508 completed AUDITs, 55 (11%) scored above the cut‐offs of 11 for harmful consumption, and 85 (17%) above the more liberal cut‐off score of 8; whereas of 501 completed MASTs, 104 (21%) scored above the cutoff. Differences in identification rates are discussed.